Today in history: October 21

Below:

Today is Friday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2005. There are 71 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
Two hundred years ago, on Oct. 21, 1805, a British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar; Nelson, however, was killed.

On this date:
In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” was launched in Boston’s harbor.

In 1879, Thomas Edison invented a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. troops captured the German city of Aachen.

In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon clashed in their fourth and final presidential debate.

In 1966, more than 140 people, mostly children, were killed when a coal waste landslide engulfed a school and several houses in south Wales.

In 1967, tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters marched in Washington, D.C.

In 1971, President Nixon nominated Lewis F. Powell and William H. Rehnquist to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1985, former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White — who served five years in prison for killing Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, a gay-rights advocate — was found dead in a garage, a suicide.

Ten years ago: Rioting inmates surrendered control of a prison dormitory in Greenville, Ill., ending a one-day uprising that began after the government ordered federal prisons locked down nationwide. The Atlanta Braves won Game 1 of the World Series, defeating the visiting Cleveland Indians 3-2. Maxene Andrews of the Andrews Sisters died in Hyannis, Mass., at age 79.

Five years ago: Fifteen Arab leaders convened in Cairo, Egypt, for their first summit in four years; the Libyan delegation walked out, angry over signs the summit would stop short of calling for breaking ties with Israel.

One year ago: An Associated Press poll found President Bush and Sen. John Kerry locked in a tie for the popular vote. After the Boston Red Sox won the American League championship, college student Victoria Snelgrove was fatally injured when she was shot in the eye by a pepper-spray pellet fired by police trying to control a raucous crowd outside Fenway Park. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros 5-2 to take Game 7 of the National League championship series.